Restart gathers support

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 1

Restart gathers support

By

KAY FORRESTER

Several Christchurch City councillors do not share the reservations of the city’s Mayor about the costs of the Government’s Restart work programme. Cr Vicki Buck said last evening she believed the council should get involved in Restart to help the long-term unemployed. She said she had spoken to at least six other councillors who also felt the council should be involved in the programme, announced by the Minister of Employment, Mr Goff, last week.

When the programme was announced the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, said he believed the estimated $BOO,OOO-plus the council

would have to put up to take 200 people on the scheme was too much to ask from ratepayers. The council’s community services division estimated that an extra $75 per week per person on the scheme would have to be added to the $325 provided by the Government.

The extra — for materials and equipment — would also have to be supplemented for supervision wages. The council has yet to discuss the scheme at a meeting. Its representatives, including Cr Buck and Sir Hamish, will meet Mr Goff on Wednesday to discuss Restart and a scheme put up by the council to help the

short-term unemployed by work placements. Mr Goff has rejected the scheme but suggested it could be placed under the Access umbrella.

Cr Buck said she hoped that the Minister would not ( take Sir Hamish’s comments as “those of the full council.

“We’ll probably discuss it at the policy and finance committee meeting (December 12). By then we will know what the Minister is thinking,” Cr Buck said.

“I don’t believe the council can afford not to be involved for the sake of those people who could be placed under the scheme.”